Providence interviewing police chief candidates

PROVIDENCE, RI – PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Providence is interviewing candidates to fill the police chief position vacated by Col. Dean Esserman, who resigned after underage drinking took place at his daughter's graduation party.

Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare declined to name the candidates. Esserman resigned in June. He became chief of the New Haven, Conn. police department last month.

Pare also says the search for a new fire chief is approaching the interview phase. Fire Chief George Farrell resigned earlier this year after serving the department for three decades.

Pare says he hopes to finalize the selections in the next 30 to 60 days.

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